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Exciting news that your bottom teeth are now corrected. I understand that bottom incisors are particularly prone to relapse, so a bonded retainer will be essential. But a bonded retainer is only likely to be on your front 6 teeth. Perhaps you could ask for a bottom hawley as well in order to keep the whole bottom arch aligned?
If your bite permits, you might also get a bonded retainer on your top 6 front teeth. Again, a hawley in addition would help maintain the whole upper arch and the hawleys in combination should maintain your bite.
This way, whilst you will have lost both your removable braces, you will have something similar in the hawleys on an indefinite basis. And perhaps you might have some input into the design and colour of the hawleys to make them interesting.
Good luck at your next appointment.
If your bite permits, you might also get a bonded retainer on your top 6 front teeth. Again, a hawley in addition would help maintain the whole upper arch and the hawleys in combination should maintain your bite.
This way, whilst you will have lost both your removable braces, you will have something similar in the hawleys on an indefinite basis. And perhaps you might have some input into the design and colour of the hawleys to make them interesting.
Good luck at your next appointment.
During my appointment two weeks ago nothing of what I predicted happened. I told the ortho that my lower left first molar has intruded. She looked at it and said with a bit of disbelief that the tooth tilted forward mesially in the exact same way my second molar did previously. She thinks that the wire of the triangular holding clasp was pushing the molar down together with my clenching, grinding and suction. She bent the wire to not touch the tooth occlusally in the hopes that it'll upright by itself.
She made some finishing touches to the labial wire and springs to finish my lower incisors. With a new appointment three weeks later I was on my way.
During the next week I didn't see any positive changes, in fact my lower right central incisor was pushed further back instead of forward. I also noticed that my lower left lateral incisor was interfering with my upper left central incisor. Therefore, I scheduled an earlier appointment for Monday.
On Monday, the ortho checked my intruded molar and saw that nothing changed. She put a bend into the wire of my brackets, trying to upright the molar that way. Next, she modified the labial bow and springs of my lower brace until I felt equal pressure everywhere. She did some very slight IPR, less than 1/10th of a mm, to make space for the 32 to move back and away from the 21. She had me wait for 10 minutes with the brace in to make sure that I have the feeling that the contact between my lower and upper incisors improves. I didn't notice anything regarding that, so she made some more modifications. After waiting another ten minutes I felt slight improvements. We decided to keep it that way for now but keep the already scheduled appointment one week later. If there are still some imperfections she can adjust further. Otherwise, she might put in the fixed retainer.
The last modifications seem to have been it, as I'm fully satisfied with my lower incisors now when I remove my lower brace. The result isn't really stable yet as it only takes an hour or so until the teeth shift back a little once I remove the braces.
The good news is that this finally means progress. The bad news is that I'll probably be rid of the lower removable brace in 2 days.
The ortho seems to use lip bumpers a lot. During all of my last three appointments there was someone in the chair next to me getting braces and all of them got lower lip bumpers as well.
She made some finishing touches to the labial wire and springs to finish my lower incisors. With a new appointment three weeks later I was on my way.
During the next week I didn't see any positive changes, in fact my lower right central incisor was pushed further back instead of forward. I also noticed that my lower left lateral incisor was interfering with my upper left central incisor. Therefore, I scheduled an earlier appointment for Monday.
On Monday, the ortho checked my intruded molar and saw that nothing changed. She put a bend into the wire of my brackets, trying to upright the molar that way. Next, she modified the labial bow and springs of my lower brace until I felt equal pressure everywhere. She did some very slight IPR, less than 1/10th of a mm, to make space for the 32 to move back and away from the 21. She had me wait for 10 minutes with the brace in to make sure that I have the feeling that the contact between my lower and upper incisors improves. I didn't notice anything regarding that, so she made some more modifications. After waiting another ten minutes I felt slight improvements. We decided to keep it that way for now but keep the already scheduled appointment one week later. If there are still some imperfections she can adjust further. Otherwise, she might put in the fixed retainer.
The last modifications seem to have been it, as I'm fully satisfied with my lower incisors now when I remove my lower brace. The result isn't really stable yet as it only takes an hour or so until the teeth shift back a little once I remove the braces.
The good news is that this finally means progress. The bad news is that I'll probably be rid of the lower removable brace in 2 days.
The ortho seems to use lip bumpers a lot. During all of my last three appointments there was someone in the chair next to me getting braces and all of them got lower lip bumpers as well.
So, starting last night, it feels like my incisors are starting to tilt the wrong way. Can’t tell looking in the mirror or in photos (at least not yet).
Looking closely at my braces, it does look like they put the wrong torque brackets on my incisors (based on how the archwire slot is tilted and what the product webpage for those brackets shows).
I sent an email to the treatment coordinator this morning; don’t know when or how she’ll respond, if I’m just imagining this or if there is an issue. If there is, though, I didn’t want my teeth to move in the wrong direction for five more weeks before saying or doing anything about it.
Looking closely at my braces, it does look like they put the wrong torque brackets on my incisors (based on how the archwire slot is tilted and what the product webpage for those brackets shows).
I sent an email to the treatment coordinator this morning; don’t know when or how she’ll respond, if I’m just imagining this or if there is an issue. If there is, though, I didn’t want my teeth to move in the wrong direction for five more weeks before saying or doing anything about it.
joerider
Gold Member
Hallo wieder einmal,
ich hatte heute einen Kontrolltermin. Es ist fast wieder dasselbe passiert: Kette raus, Draht raus, reinigen, Draht rein, Kette rein.
Dauer wieder ca. 20 Minuten. Diesmal ist die Kette jedoch nur von 6 nach 6 eingebaut.
Der nächste Termin findet wieder in 4 Wochen statt.
Alles Liebe!
ich hatte heute einen Kontrolltermin. Es ist fast wieder dasselbe passiert: Kette raus, Draht raus, reinigen, Draht rein, Kette rein.
Dauer wieder ca. 20 Minuten. Diesmal ist die Kette jedoch nur von 6 nach 6 eingebaut.
Der nächste Termin findet wieder in 4 Wochen statt.
Alles Liebe!
Klammerfan
Gold Member
Milva said:
Thanks for the link.
The video is really interesting.
From the video and the underwritten notes I understand that the Frankel Appliances
1) are used on very young patients and not on adults
2) are loose in mouth, not they do not clasp on the upper jaw, so thaqt when you open mouth fro example for speaking they move inside the mouth
3) are worn FULL TIME for a long time
They are BIG and fill the mouth, also because they are somehow "elastic"
It definetely looks like one of the most impressive appliances ever! Maybe more or lesso like a twinblock!
It is pretty noticeable also with your lips shut, because they give youa sort of "squirrel loook" with ceeks full.
Despite the fact that they are inappropriate on adults, I'm curious to find how it feels inside my mouth!
I really cannot imagine how can you speak with it inside
The video is really interesting.
From the video and the underwritten notes I understand that the Frankel Appliances
1) are used on very young patients and not on adults
2) are loose in mouth, not they do not clasp on the upper jaw, so thaqt when you open mouth fro example for speaking they move inside the mouth
3) are worn FULL TIME for a long time
They are BIG and fill the mouth, also because they are somehow "elastic"
It definetely looks like one of the most impressive appliances ever! Maybe more or lesso like a twinblock!
It is pretty noticeable also with your lips shut, because they give youa sort of "squirrel loook" with ceeks full.
Despite the fact that they are inappropriate on adults, I'm curious to find how it feels inside my mouth!
I really cannot imagine how can you speak with it inside
Klammerfan
Gold Member
Hi Milva,
Please see this link to a nice video regarding Fraenkel Activator. If you have further questions I can give you some more information, because I was wearing a Fraenkel appliance some time ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOjaiIWjzM8
Please see this link to a nice video regarding Fraenkel Activator. If you have further questions I can give you some more information, because I was wearing a Fraenkel appliance some time ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOjaiIWjzM8
Hi all
I have never seen a Fraenkel Actovator in person.
I often wonder how it is in the mouth.
Does it clasp to uper (or lower) teeth or it stays somehow free in the mouth?
I mean, when you open the mouth, it is free to move inside ot it stays on the upper jaw like a retainer does?
Thanks fo an answer, and maybe a link to a video, if possible.
I have never seen a Fraenkel Actovator in person.
I often wonder how it is in the mouth.
Does it clasp to uper (or lower) teeth or it stays somehow free in the mouth?
I mean, when you open the mouth, it is free to move inside ot it stays on the upper jaw like a retainer does?
Thanks fo an answer, and maybe a link to a video, if possible.
Two Weeks
Today marks two weeks since I got braces. I’m still adjusting to them, but they are starting to feel more normal.
Sensitivity when biting down is mostly gone. The day after getting the braces on was definitely the worst, and has gradually gotten better since then. While at first my lateral incisors were most sensitive (especially the right one that has stops on both sides of the bracket), now my canines are most sensitive. I’m guessing this is because the way the brackets are placed on them looks like they’re going to tip the roots towards the bicuspids (to get ready for the Carriere, maybe?).
Even though it’s hard to tell when looking in the mirror or in a photo, I can feel that both lateral incisors have moved some. The left one has come forward some, and the right one has rotated in place, I think (used to be lined up with neighboring teeth, now one side is a little behind the central incisor, and the other side is a little ahead of the canine). I can’t tell if there’s been any other movement, yet, but things just feel different (for the past day or two, my canines on the right hit when I bite down; they didn’t used to do that).
It still doesn’t quite look normal to me when seeing my braces in the mirror or in a photo, but not as weird as the first few days. My wife mentioned the other day that my teeth don’t look as big as they did the first few days with the braces, so I think she’s getting a little more used to seeing them.
A few times now over the past few days, if my lips and cheeks are in just the right spot and don't move, I don't feel the braces. And for one conversation today, I wasn't thinking about how they felt or how to position my lips around them. Mostly, though, I'm still almost always aware of them.
A few people I know have seen them now, or at least had the chance to. Dropped something off at a friend’s house, and they didn’t seem to notice, but they may not have even looked at my mouth, and it was only like a 10 second interaction. My parents visited us out in our front yard, and kept at a distance some they had recently been exposed to Covid, and so had my wife. They either didn’t notice, or decided not to comment at all (though I think my wife had briefly mentioned to my mom a couple days before I got them that I would be getting braces again). My in-laws also stopped by outside, and they noticed, but it was a pretty quick part of the conversation. My mother-in-law mentioned she wished she had gotten braces in the past. I told them my ortho’s office has had adult patients of all ages, even up to an 84-year-old, but I don’t think that’s going to get her to look into it for herself. Her teeth are quite visibly crowded.
Here is a photo of my teeth as of today: https://www.flickr.com/gp/189082961@N04/r18KU7
I don’t know if I’ll post another update before my appointment in August, maybe if I notice more changes.
Today marks two weeks since I got braces. I’m still adjusting to them, but they are starting to feel more normal.
Sensitivity when biting down is mostly gone. The day after getting the braces on was definitely the worst, and has gradually gotten better since then. While at first my lateral incisors were most sensitive (especially the right one that has stops on both sides of the bracket), now my canines are most sensitive. I’m guessing this is because the way the brackets are placed on them looks like they’re going to tip the roots towards the bicuspids (to get ready for the Carriere, maybe?).
Even though it’s hard to tell when looking in the mirror or in a photo, I can feel that both lateral incisors have moved some. The left one has come forward some, and the right one has rotated in place, I think (used to be lined up with neighboring teeth, now one side is a little behind the central incisor, and the other side is a little ahead of the canine). I can’t tell if there’s been any other movement, yet, but things just feel different (for the past day or two, my canines on the right hit when I bite down; they didn’t used to do that).
It still doesn’t quite look normal to me when seeing my braces in the mirror or in a photo, but not as weird as the first few days. My wife mentioned the other day that my teeth don’t look as big as they did the first few days with the braces, so I think she’s getting a little more used to seeing them.
A few times now over the past few days, if my lips and cheeks are in just the right spot and don't move, I don't feel the braces. And for one conversation today, I wasn't thinking about how they felt or how to position my lips around them. Mostly, though, I'm still almost always aware of them.
A few people I know have seen them now, or at least had the chance to. Dropped something off at a friend’s house, and they didn’t seem to notice, but they may not have even looked at my mouth, and it was only like a 10 second interaction. My parents visited us out in our front yard, and kept at a distance some they had recently been exposed to Covid, and so had my wife. They either didn’t notice, or decided not to comment at all (though I think my wife had briefly mentioned to my mom a couple days before I got them that I would be getting braces again). My in-laws also stopped by outside, and they noticed, but it was a pretty quick part of the conversation. My mother-in-law mentioned she wished she had gotten braces in the past. I told them my ortho’s office has had adult patients of all ages, even up to an 84-year-old, but I don’t think that’s going to get her to look into it for herself. Her teeth are quite visibly crowded.
Here is a photo of my teeth as of today: https://www.flickr.com/gp/189082961@N04/r18KU7
I don’t know if I’ll post another update before my appointment in August, maybe if I notice more changes.
Retainer101
Gold Member
I haven’t but I am going to the ortho in 3 weeks to get expanders and both top and bottom appliance are going to have retainer wires so it could be that they do southend clasp for my upper teeth. From your point of view if you want it then get it, I’m sure they can make any type for you. Keep us posted
A week after the last appointment I went back to the ortho for the gel splint fitting. She ordered an AquaSplint, which doesn't really need much fitting. As such, it took only a few minutes. It had a sharp edge in one place which the ortho smoothened. She explained that I should wear it if I feel the need, but try to use it as little as possible to prevent further premolar intrusion as that's where the gel pads are located.
Afterwards, she checked the lower removable plate and adjusted the labial bow and springs a little. And with that I was on my way for 4 further weeks until my next appointment tomorrow.
I've worn the gel splint three times, each for 1-2 hours either when I woke up with jaw pain, or when I noticed that I clenched while doing stressful work. It helped in both occasions by relaxing my muscles.
Regarding tooth movement, the lower left outer incisor improved a bit, but isn't moved back quite enough yet. At the same time the lower left central incisor moved a bit outwards and the right central incisor moved inwards a bit. I think another round with slight adjustments will be needed. I feel like the lower left wisdom tooth moved back with the wire through the brackets again.
As it would be boring if that was it and there were no further complications, my lower left first molar intruded quite significantly, I'd guess about 1mm. I only noticed a few days ago because food was getting stuck between the elastic hook and my gum as the bracket is now lower, which didn't happen before. Before, it was always stuck between the hook and my tooth with a little more space for me to get it out with my tongue. I remember the ortho already saying that the wires resting on top of both lower first molars may result in some intrusion, but she hoped that won't happen. It also didn't happen when I didn't have the wire through the brackets (though I don't know if that's related).
When I ate some sticky stuff which sticks to the teeth, I noticed that quite a lot was stuck on the occlusal surfaces of my molars and premolars on both sides. As such I think the bite will need some fixing on both sides. Even though the right side feels okay, I think it could be improved quite a bit still. If we're tackling the bite, possibly on both sides, I want to ask the ortho if my wisdom teeth could also be moved into better occlusion. Currently they are on top of each other but with a gap between them, not touching properly. That was even worse before treatment, before the wisdom teeth were derotated and moved inwards more, but if it could be fixed easily, why not do it as well.
With all the side effects for my case I wonder when the ortho will be at wits end and just suggest full metal brackets on all teeth for a few months to finish everything. I hope that won't happen as I really don't want brackets on my social 12 (don't try to convince me otherwise, I have tried to convince myself and failed, that reluctance comes from way further down somewhere).
If I'd guess, I'd say that the ortho may carry out the option of putting buttons on my upper molars / premolars and pull the teeth together with triangle elastics starting from tomorrow already? Maybe she may also put brackets on the lower left premolars and try to pull it back up with a wire that way.
At this point I'm a bit torn. On one hand side, after 15 months of treatment I would have expected to be either finished already or at least in the finishing stages. Instead, every time we think we have a working plan, there is some complication pushing the treatment back a few weeks. On the other hand side, these complications let me experience lots of stuff I wouldn't have otherwise. First the anterior bite plate, then the three brackets, and now buttons and elastics (which I'm pretty sure I'll get at some point or another). Without the complications, I wouldn't have any of those. I'd also most likely already be done…
Let's see what tomorrow holds.
Afterwards, she checked the lower removable plate and adjusted the labial bow and springs a little. And with that I was on my way for 4 further weeks until my next appointment tomorrow.
I've worn the gel splint three times, each for 1-2 hours either when I woke up with jaw pain, or when I noticed that I clenched while doing stressful work. It helped in both occasions by relaxing my muscles.
Regarding tooth movement, the lower left outer incisor improved a bit, but isn't moved back quite enough yet. At the same time the lower left central incisor moved a bit outwards and the right central incisor moved inwards a bit. I think another round with slight adjustments will be needed. I feel like the lower left wisdom tooth moved back with the wire through the brackets again.
As it would be boring if that was it and there were no further complications, my lower left first molar intruded quite significantly, I'd guess about 1mm. I only noticed a few days ago because food was getting stuck between the elastic hook and my gum as the bracket is now lower, which didn't happen before. Before, it was always stuck between the hook and my tooth with a little more space for me to get it out with my tongue. I remember the ortho already saying that the wires resting on top of both lower first molars may result in some intrusion, but she hoped that won't happen. It also didn't happen when I didn't have the wire through the brackets (though I don't know if that's related).
When I ate some sticky stuff which sticks to the teeth, I noticed that quite a lot was stuck on the occlusal surfaces of my molars and premolars on both sides. As such I think the bite will need some fixing on both sides. Even though the right side feels okay, I think it could be improved quite a bit still. If we're tackling the bite, possibly on both sides, I want to ask the ortho if my wisdom teeth could also be moved into better occlusion. Currently they are on top of each other but with a gap between them, not touching properly. That was even worse before treatment, before the wisdom teeth were derotated and moved inwards more, but if it could be fixed easily, why not do it as well.
With all the side effects for my case I wonder when the ortho will be at wits end and just suggest full metal brackets on all teeth for a few months to finish everything. I hope that won't happen as I really don't want brackets on my social 12 (don't try to convince me otherwise, I have tried to convince myself and failed, that reluctance comes from way further down somewhere).
If I'd guess, I'd say that the ortho may carry out the option of putting buttons on my upper molars / premolars and pull the teeth together with triangle elastics starting from tomorrow already? Maybe she may also put brackets on the lower left premolars and try to pull it back up with a wire that way.
At this point I'm a bit torn. On one hand side, after 15 months of treatment I would have expected to be either finished already or at least in the finishing stages. Instead, every time we think we have a working plan, there is some complication pushing the treatment back a few weeks. On the other hand side, these complications let me experience lots of stuff I wouldn't have otherwise. First the anterior bite plate, then the three brackets, and now buttons and elastics (which I'm pretty sure I'll get at some point or another). Without the complications, I wouldn't have any of those. I'd also most likely already be done…
Let's see what tomorrow holds.
First few days
So I've had my top front braces for three days now. I'm starting to get used to seeing braces on my teeth when looking in a mirror. Still not totally used to it, but it doesn't look as strange. My mouth is also starting to get used to the sensation of them. Last night in bed, there were a few times where, if my lips were in the right place, the feeling of the braces kind of went away even though I knew my lips were still touching them. Most of the time, though, very aware of their presence.
The Damon brackets still seem to "poke" more than what I remember of traditional braces. Not like my lips or cheeks are getting hooked on them or anything, but I can feel the sharp corners, and the ligatures on traditional braces kind of padded the brackets a little, I feel. The tie wings on the brackets on my incisors, in particular, feel sharp when I press my lips against them. The ends of the wire haven't bothered me at all, the assistant did a great job of bending and tucking them back (well, except for the fact that I have to be really careful when flossing there that the floss doesn't get hooked on the wire). I have found that the brackets irritate my lips and cheeks more when wearing a mask, but putting wax on the bicuspid brackets helps a lot with that.
Overall, I haven't felt pain or soreness when not pressing on a tooth, biting down on something, or my lower teeth accidentally hitting my upper teeth (or when my four-year-old raised her hand quickly while sitting in my lap and hit my face). Day two (Tuesday) was the worst, and it's gotten better yesterday and today. Still can't eat normally, but because the braces are only on the top, and not on my molars or second bicuspids, I can stick small bites of food into my mouth and chew on those teeth. Started being able to take small bites of soft foods with my front two incisors yesterday afternoon. The right lateral incisor (the one with a stop on either side of the bracket in the photo I posted) has been the most sore by a decent margin. I'm guessing it has felt some left/right forces that the other teeth haven't.
My left lateral incisor moved quickly! It has been back a little bit in my mouth compared to the teeth around it for along time (can see it in photos from the end of high school, 20 years ago; I must have stopped wearing my upper retainer at night half to two-thirds of the way through high school). I thought I had felt it move a little before I even got to my car after getting the braces on. By Wednesday (and still now), it is very nearly lined up with the incisor next to it. Wednesday, and even Tuesday, I kept running my tongue along the backs of my upper incisors, because they haven't felt that lined up to each other for, yeah, 20+ years. Makes that side of the front of my mouth feel just a touch bigger to my tongue. It was really exciting to notice that kind of movement that quickly.
I'm sure other movement has been happening, despite not really seeing it yet, because the way my bite feels, particularly in the front, has changed a little over these few days. Can't really describe it, but it's just a little different.
When I do run my tongue along the inside of my upper teeth, I can feel the connectedness from the wire, and even some tightness across those teeth.
The brackets on my incisors seem placed fairly low to me. I'll ask about the reason for that at some point, but it does make me worried that, once the soreness has gone away enough, it will be easy to knock a bracket off while eating.
I am kind of a meek or shy person, so I have been worried about people seeing my braces and how they'll react. I don't think I'm as worried about that as I was as a young teen with braces, but now it's not like a huge number of my peers are also in braces at the same time. I am still wearing a mask when at work, except when alone in my office, so no coworkers have seen my braces or know about them yet. No lisp (to my ear) so I don't think there's anything to give it away yet. Haven't seen friends in person yet, so I still don't know how they will react. I had a followup with my allergist yesterday, and while that building requires masks for everyone, the doctor checks your throat, ears, and nose at followups, so outside of the orthodontist's office or my immediate family, my allergist was the first person to see my braces face-to-face. She asked how they were, and I told her I had just gotten them that week. She mentioned that she did invisalign, and that it helped with her jaw clenching. I knew the allergist would see the braces at that appointment, but hadn't worried about it at all since one, she's a medical professional doing her job, and two, I hadn't seen her in almost a year and my next followup won't be for another year. I have a followup of sorts with my dentist this afternoon having to do with a filling I got last week (or more precisely, some jaw muscle soreness/tightness I've had since the filling, has only added to the difficulties of eating), but I did tell her last week at that appointment that I had chosen an orthodontist and would be starting this week, so my dentist shouldn't be surprised. With how low the brackets are on my incisors and my deep bite, I couldn't hide the braces while talking even if I wanted to. I've been making a conscious effort at home with my wife and kids to just be natural and normal as to how much and when I show my teeth and smile, kind of as practice for being around friends (and eventually coworkers) who will see my braces.
I'm still definitely adjusting to these braces. I've even woken up in the middle of the night the past three night. Not because there was soreness or pain or anything, but I think my body just knew something out of the ordinary was going on and so it decided to wake me up. Hopefully the soreness when biting goes away soon, and I'm looking forward to seeing more progress as I go!
So I've had my top front braces for three days now. I'm starting to get used to seeing braces on my teeth when looking in a mirror. Still not totally used to it, but it doesn't look as strange. My mouth is also starting to get used to the sensation of them. Last night in bed, there were a few times where, if my lips were in the right place, the feeling of the braces kind of went away even though I knew my lips were still touching them. Most of the time, though, very aware of their presence.
The Damon brackets still seem to "poke" more than what I remember of traditional braces. Not like my lips or cheeks are getting hooked on them or anything, but I can feel the sharp corners, and the ligatures on traditional braces kind of padded the brackets a little, I feel. The tie wings on the brackets on my incisors, in particular, feel sharp when I press my lips against them. The ends of the wire haven't bothered me at all, the assistant did a great job of bending and tucking them back (well, except for the fact that I have to be really careful when flossing there that the floss doesn't get hooked on the wire). I have found that the brackets irritate my lips and cheeks more when wearing a mask, but putting wax on the bicuspid brackets helps a lot with that.
Overall, I haven't felt pain or soreness when not pressing on a tooth, biting down on something, or my lower teeth accidentally hitting my upper teeth (or when my four-year-old raised her hand quickly while sitting in my lap and hit my face). Day two (Tuesday) was the worst, and it's gotten better yesterday and today. Still can't eat normally, but because the braces are only on the top, and not on my molars or second bicuspids, I can stick small bites of food into my mouth and chew on those teeth. Started being able to take small bites of soft foods with my front two incisors yesterday afternoon. The right lateral incisor (the one with a stop on either side of the bracket in the photo I posted) has been the most sore by a decent margin. I'm guessing it has felt some left/right forces that the other teeth haven't.
My left lateral incisor moved quickly! It has been back a little bit in my mouth compared to the teeth around it for along time (can see it in photos from the end of high school, 20 years ago; I must have stopped wearing my upper retainer at night half to two-thirds of the way through high school). I thought I had felt it move a little before I even got to my car after getting the braces on. By Wednesday (and still now), it is very nearly lined up with the incisor next to it. Wednesday, and even Tuesday, I kept running my tongue along the backs of my upper incisors, because they haven't felt that lined up to each other for, yeah, 20+ years. Makes that side of the front of my mouth feel just a touch bigger to my tongue. It was really exciting to notice that kind of movement that quickly.
I'm sure other movement has been happening, despite not really seeing it yet, because the way my bite feels, particularly in the front, has changed a little over these few days. Can't really describe it, but it's just a little different.
When I do run my tongue along the inside of my upper teeth, I can feel the connectedness from the wire, and even some tightness across those teeth.
The brackets on my incisors seem placed fairly low to me. I'll ask about the reason for that at some point, but it does make me worried that, once the soreness has gone away enough, it will be easy to knock a bracket off while eating.
I am kind of a meek or shy person, so I have been worried about people seeing my braces and how they'll react. I don't think I'm as worried about that as I was as a young teen with braces, but now it's not like a huge number of my peers are also in braces at the same time. I am still wearing a mask when at work, except when alone in my office, so no coworkers have seen my braces or know about them yet. No lisp (to my ear) so I don't think there's anything to give it away yet. Haven't seen friends in person yet, so I still don't know how they will react. I had a followup with my allergist yesterday, and while that building requires masks for everyone, the doctor checks your throat, ears, and nose at followups, so outside of the orthodontist's office or my immediate family, my allergist was the first person to see my braces face-to-face. She asked how they were, and I told her I had just gotten them that week. She mentioned that she did invisalign, and that it helped with her jaw clenching. I knew the allergist would see the braces at that appointment, but hadn't worried about it at all since one, she's a medical professional doing her job, and two, I hadn't seen her in almost a year and my next followup won't be for another year. I have a followup of sorts with my dentist this afternoon having to do with a filling I got last week (or more precisely, some jaw muscle soreness/tightness I've had since the filling, has only added to the difficulties of eating), but I did tell her last week at that appointment that I had chosen an orthodontist and would be starting this week, so my dentist shouldn't be surprised. With how low the brackets are on my incisors and my deep bite, I couldn't hide the braces while talking even if I wanted to. I've been making a conscious effort at home with my wife and kids to just be natural and normal as to how much and when I show my teeth and smile, kind of as practice for being around friends (and eventually coworkers) who will see my braces.
I'm still definitely adjusting to these braces. I've even woken up in the middle of the night the past three night. Not because there was soreness or pain or anything, but I think my body just knew something out of the ordinary was going on and so it decided to wake me up. Hopefully the soreness when biting goes away soon, and I'm looking forward to seeing more progress as I go!
I meant to post here a little sooner, but life's been busy this week. I did get braces on this past Monday! Metal Damon on top from first bicuspid to first bicuspid, no colored ligatures.
At the ortho's office, they first took another kind of x-ray (I think maybe a profile view; they took a panoramic at the consultation), and then used an iTero scanner to make a 3D model of my teeth, instead of taking an impression (though they still do that for fitting banded appliances, so I'll have to do that for the lower lingual holding arch when it's time to get the Carriere appliance). The woman who did the x-ray and scan was young and asked if I'd be getting colors on my braces (based on an earlier question she asked, I think she thought I was younger than I am, though it had come up that I had young kids). I told her probably not, but maybe at a future appointment. She said she wishes she had braces again so she could get different colors! The scan probably took about as long as taking impressions would have, but I guess then it's all done, and they don't have to create molds from the impressions. She briefly showed me the finished scan, but I didn't really get to look at it much.
After that, went and paid (in full to get a slight discount, but ouch!), and then was taken back to the clinic area where the exam chairs are for patients during appointments. I had to wait for a bit for the ortho to be done with the other exams he had before me (assistant polished my teeth, then we waited a bit, then she used the etch I think, then she did something and used the UV light, then we waited more with my mouth open and lip spreader in). When I first sat down, there was a woman in the exam chair next to me who was probably in her 50's. I think she was the only other patient I noticed who looked older than a teenager. It'll be interesting to see how often I see other adult patients.
Finally the ortho came over to place the brackets. When told/shown that I had chosen metal (over clear), he made a comment about how he likes the metal brackets and am glad I made that choice. Probably similar view to Ortho B about the metal Damon brackets being newer and better than the clear Damon brackets, but just doesn't push that or try to sell it to patients who might otherwise want clear. He placed the brackets by hand and by eye, told the assistant what wire to start with, and then went on to the next patient.
Got the lip spreader out before the assistant placed the wire. The brackets feel really weird when brand new to your mouth, with the doors open! The assistant trimmed the wire to match the length to just what brackets I have and put it into the brackets. She then went over a few things and gave me the "goodie bag" they give every new patient. I then went to the front desk and scheduled out 8 weeks for my next appointment.
While walking out to my car, it felt like my left lateral incisor had already moved forward a tiny bit (just like 5-10 minutes after the wire was placed). Got in the car and got to look at them for the first time. It's weird seeing myself in braces again, 23 years after getting them removed the first time. The brackets are so small that it makes my teeth look even bigger than they are, and the Damon brackets are definitely pokey-er than what I remember from having traditional brackets (though maybe what I remember is from after I had adjusted to having braces, and/or when I had powerchains that made the braces feel a lot smoother). Damon brackets with the wire, so far, feel a like what traditional brackets felt like with the wire removed (at my ortho as a kid, sometimes they would take off the ligatures and wire and then let you go brush your teeth before putting the new wire and ligatures on).
Here is a photo from that first day right after I got home: https://www.flickr.com/gp/189082961@N04/y0618P
The colored dots are all basically off as of yesterday. I don’t know what the blue stuff on the center of the archwire is, but it’s gone, too.
Looking up stuff on Ormco's website (the company that makes Damon braces) and looking carefully at my braces, I think I have Damon Ultima brackets on the four incisors, and Damon Q brackets on the canines and first bicuspids (those will be removed when the Carriere is placed). Ultima is their new bracket/system that, I think, has only been for sale for just under a year. That basically lines up with how Ortho B had told me that the metal brackets have been updated a couple times since the clear ones were, and how the metal work a lot better, in his opinion.
I'll write up more soon (maybe today, maybe in the next few days) about how these first few days have gone. Still definitely just getting used to them.
At the ortho's office, they first took another kind of x-ray (I think maybe a profile view; they took a panoramic at the consultation), and then used an iTero scanner to make a 3D model of my teeth, instead of taking an impression (though they still do that for fitting banded appliances, so I'll have to do that for the lower lingual holding arch when it's time to get the Carriere appliance). The woman who did the x-ray and scan was young and asked if I'd be getting colors on my braces (based on an earlier question she asked, I think she thought I was younger than I am, though it had come up that I had young kids). I told her probably not, but maybe at a future appointment. She said she wishes she had braces again so she could get different colors! The scan probably took about as long as taking impressions would have, but I guess then it's all done, and they don't have to create molds from the impressions. She briefly showed me the finished scan, but I didn't really get to look at it much.
After that, went and paid (in full to get a slight discount, but ouch!), and then was taken back to the clinic area where the exam chairs are for patients during appointments. I had to wait for a bit for the ortho to be done with the other exams he had before me (assistant polished my teeth, then we waited a bit, then she used the etch I think, then she did something and used the UV light, then we waited more with my mouth open and lip spreader in). When I first sat down, there was a woman in the exam chair next to me who was probably in her 50's. I think she was the only other patient I noticed who looked older than a teenager. It'll be interesting to see how often I see other adult patients.
Finally the ortho came over to place the brackets. When told/shown that I had chosen metal (over clear), he made a comment about how he likes the metal brackets and am glad I made that choice. Probably similar view to Ortho B about the metal Damon brackets being newer and better than the clear Damon brackets, but just doesn't push that or try to sell it to patients who might otherwise want clear. He placed the brackets by hand and by eye, told the assistant what wire to start with, and then went on to the next patient.
Got the lip spreader out before the assistant placed the wire. The brackets feel really weird when brand new to your mouth, with the doors open! The assistant trimmed the wire to match the length to just what brackets I have and put it into the brackets. She then went over a few things and gave me the "goodie bag" they give every new patient. I then went to the front desk and scheduled out 8 weeks for my next appointment.
While walking out to my car, it felt like my left lateral incisor had already moved forward a tiny bit (just like 5-10 minutes after the wire was placed). Got in the car and got to look at them for the first time. It's weird seeing myself in braces again, 23 years after getting them removed the first time. The brackets are so small that it makes my teeth look even bigger than they are, and the Damon brackets are definitely pokey-er than what I remember from having traditional brackets (though maybe what I remember is from after I had adjusted to having braces, and/or when I had powerchains that made the braces feel a lot smoother). Damon brackets with the wire, so far, feel a like what traditional brackets felt like with the wire removed (at my ortho as a kid, sometimes they would take off the ligatures and wire and then let you go brush your teeth before putting the new wire and ligatures on).
Here is a photo from that first day right after I got home: https://www.flickr.com/gp/189082961@N04/y0618P
The colored dots are all basically off as of yesterday. I don’t know what the blue stuff on the center of the archwire is, but it’s gone, too.
Looking up stuff on Ormco's website (the company that makes Damon braces) and looking carefully at my braces, I think I have Damon Ultima brackets on the four incisors, and Damon Q brackets on the canines and first bicuspids (those will be removed when the Carriere is placed). Ultima is their new bracket/system that, I think, has only been for sale for just under a year. That basically lines up with how Ortho B had told me that the metal brackets have been updated a couple times since the clear ones were, and how the metal work a lot better, in his opinion.
I'll write up more soon (maybe today, maybe in the next few days) about how these first few days have gone. Still definitely just getting used to them.
Bracesagain
Bronce Member
Hey, did you go through with it? Excited for you!! Would be curious to see any updates.